Temperature regulating and control valve



Oct. 16, 1951 T s. LINDABURY TEMPERATURE REGULATING AND CONTROL VALVE 2 SHEET SSHEET 1 Filed June 26, 1948 INVENTOR TRYoN S, LINDABURY ATTORNEY Oct. 4 1951 T. s. LINDABURY 2,571,734

TEMPERATURE REGULATING AND CONTROL VALVE Filed June 26, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR TRYON S. LINDABURY ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TEMPERATURE BEGULATING AND CONTROL VALVE Tryon S. Lindabury, Overland, Mo.

Application June 26, 1948, Serial No. 35,484

i Claims. (Cl. 2778) This invention relates to fluid flow control and temperature regulating valves, and I have chosen, by way of example only, particularly to describe my improvements in connection with a valve construction which will enable the drawing of water from either a hot or a cold supply line, or will enable a selective intermixing of hot and cold water supplies to regulate the temperature of the water discharged.

The broad object of my invention is attained in and by a valve construction of simple, compact and inexpensive design which may be employed in fluid supply systems having distinct hot and cold feed lines to permit a selective volume flow regulation from either hot or cold feed lines, and a selective intermixing of the hot and cold fluids to obtain a final discharge temperature of the desired order.

It is also my object to provide a valve of this type having simplified control means through which are consolidated the essential valve motions and fluid flow control functions to achieve a fluid volume regulation for either fluid of the system, and a fiuid intermixing as Well as volume regulation thereof.

Another important object of my invention is found in certain improved features of construction and arrangement which will permit the fluid flow control factors, as selective volume and temperature regulation, to be achieved with substantially no impairment of one factor upon alteration of the other factor, it thus being made possible to vary the volume of fluid flow without altering the selected temperature, and on the other hand to vary the temperature of the fluid flow without altering the selected rate or volume of flow.

Still another object of this invention is to be found in an improved and novel arrangement of separate and common fluid flow passages, conduits, chambers and the like, formed in the cooperating parts of the valve structure, such that a minimum number of fixed and moving parts are required, and the valve may be easily adapted to a wide range of installations by the simple eX- pedient of adding or removing interchangeable or accessory parts.

The foregoing and other objects will be more particularly described in connection with the embodiment of my valve which is presently preferred by me, and which I have shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the valve assembly as adapted for use in the water supply lines to a sink installation, and in which view I have indicated the direction of movement of the valve control means for selecting desired conditions of volume flow;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the valve assembly from the rear thereof;

Fig. 3 is an elevational View of the valve assembly from one end, and in which the motion of a flow controlling member for selecting both or either of two fluids has been shown;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged and longitudinal sectional elevation taken at line 4-4 of the valve assembly of Fig. 1 to show the principal features of its construction;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged and partial sectional plan view of the valve assembly to show the arrangement and direction of water flow passages, conduits and the like, the View being taken at line 5-5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan view similar to that in Fig. 5, but illustrating a difierent control setting thereof;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the control valve means shown in Fig. 4, but in which a preliminary condition of valve adjustment is shown;

Fig. 8 is similar to Fig. 7, but in which a still further valve adjustment has been indicated;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary and transverse sectional elevational view through the valve to show the details of construction and mounting of the sink type swing spout, the view being taken at line 9-9 in Fig. 6, and

Fig. 10 is a view similar to that of Fig. 9, but in which view the swing spout has been replaced by a selector valve and the valve body has been modified in certain respects to indicate how the assembly may be modified to become adaptable for use in connection with a combination tub and shower installation.

Considering the valve assembly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, as the same would appear for installation as a sink fixture, it can be appreciated that the assembly is comprised of a casting or body Ill having internally cored passages as will hereinafter appear, a control member H rotatively or angularly movably mounted on the body casting Ill, a valve unit l2 carried by the member II in position to have its control handle [3 freely exposed for easy access, and a discharge member or spout I4 swing-ably mounted on the body cast ing it so as to extend outwardly and above a sink well or basin (not shown). The body I0 is seen to have a plurality of depending and integrally formed, threaded coupling bosses disposed at its under surface. These bosses serve, as the means for securing the fixture to the back board or similar area of the sink and also act as a part of the connections for Water supply lines and service take-off lines. In the present fixture, boss may be assumed as connected to a hot Water supply line, boss 36 may be assumed as connected to a cold Water supply line, and the centrally located boss ll may be assumed as connected to a flexible or other conduit leading to a sink spray attachment, not shown, but assumed to be of the usual types.

The body it of my improved valve, as illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, is formed as a casting having cored passages formed therein. I prefer that the body have a symmetrical form at opposite sides of a transverse median plane to simplify the function of the body, reduce casting problems and to gain a more pleasing appearance for the final fixture, of which it is a part. In Fig. 4, the body It is shown as havin a central por tion 20, integrally formed with oppositely directed body extensions 3i and 22, and spaced, vertically directed shoulders 23 and 24. The shoulder 23 is located. adjacent body extension 2|, shoulder 2 3 is located adjacent body extension 22, and these vertical or upstanding shoul ders are spaced longitudinally to define with the central body portion 2E a saddle-like seat area in the body to receive the control member H previously noted. In further characterization of the body H, it will be noted that the respective fluid line connection bosses 55, iii and i! are formed on and spaced along the under surface, with bosses l5 and i6 respectively located at the body extensions 2! and 22, and boss I? located intermediate the length of the central portion 29.

During the casting of the body it, suitable cores are utilized in the mold so that the interior of the central portion 2-5 and each shoulder 23 and 24 contains a portion of a common fluid discharge passage, denoted generally as 25. This passage is constituted by vertical passage sections 26 and 22" respectively in shoulders 23 and 24, and an interconnecting passage section 2% in the central body portion 23. Also during the casting of the body Hi, the central body portion is provided with an island or internal boss 30 which bridges the top and bottom Walls of the passage section 28 and extends transversely of the longitudinal body axis (Figs. 5, 6 and 9) from a Zone free of connection with the rear wall 3! of the body and over the depending boss I? to the front of the body, and more particularly into the zone of a forwardly directed body extension 32 of the central portion 22. Thus, fluid entering passage section 28 may flow about and around the island boss 3% without interruption. The vertical passage section 26 in shoulder 23 contains an internal boss 33 which bridges its opposite vertical end walls but is free of connection with the opposite side walls to enable the free flow of fluid around the same (Figs. 5 and 6). Similarly, the opposite vertical passage section 2? contains an internal boss 3 which bridges the opposite end walls, but is free of connection with the side walls for flow of fluid around the same.

The body 18 is provided with a fluid inlet passage 35 drilled through the boss 5 to enter the body extension 2!, and a similar drilled passage 35 for fluid inlet flow is provided in the opposite boss l6 and body extension 22. The passage 35 communicates with a laterally and upwardly inclined flow passage 3? which pierces the boss 33 and opens through the face of the fiat wall 3-3 on the inner side of shoulder '23 to form the out- .let port or end 39 of the communicating fluid inlet passages and 3?. In like manner, the opposite drilled passage 36 communicates with a laterally and upwardly inclined flow passage 48 which pierces the boss 34 and opens through the face of the fiat inner Wall 4-. of shoulder 24 to form the outlet port or end 42 of the communicating passages 36 and all. The inclined passages 3? and 36 (Figs. 5 and 6) are located sub stantially in the same longitudinal plane and have their respective outlet ports 39 and 42 positioned at the same elevation so as to be in apposed longitudinal relationship, for a purpose hereinafter to be noted.

Control member 5 i of the present valve assembly is shown as being a cylindrical part which is adapted to fit within the saddle-like seat area of the body i9 between the opposite flat faces 38 and ll of the respective shoulders 23 and 26. Member ii is carefully formed to have a close working fit between the faces 38 and ll, such that endwise play of the member is reduced as much as possible. The body shoulders 23 and 24 are each formed to have the upper port-ion circular or arcuate in elevation so as to have a matching surface lit with member H and thereby impart a streamlined appearance to the as sembly for all positions of angular or rotational displacement of the member relative to the body.

Member ii is provided with flat end faces id and 25 respectively adjacent the faces 38 and ii of the opposite body shoulders, and each end face is axially recessed at 46 near its periphery and at ll adjacent its central zone. These outer and inner annular recesses 46 and 4'! receive suitable sealing elements, shown as toroidal rings 43 and 4% respectively, which are circular in section. The inner recesses 4? are located at the opposite ends of an axially drilled bore in the member ll. This axial bore is shown in two sections at 52 and 53 (Figs. 4, '7 and 8) and these sections open at their inner ends to a chamber 54 formed in the member H, as by suitable drilling and counter-boring the member in a direction transversely of the longitudinal axis thereof. The outer open end of the bore forming chamber 54 is adapted to receive the valve assembly [2.

The operative mounting of member ii in the body it is effected by sleeve elements 55 and 5t pushed into the respective bore sections 52 and 53 from the ends thereof opening to the chamber 54. The outer end of each of these sleeves engages in a bore or bearing aperture 5! formed one in each fiat face 38 and 4! of the respective shoulders 23 and 24. These bearin apertures 5i are formed by Working through larger drillings 58 from the outer side of the shoulders to the body passage portions 26 and 21. After the apertures 5'3 are drilled, the larger drillings 53 are closed and sealed by plugs 59. which are ground oil or finished flush with the exterior face of the body shoulders. Each plug 5% has an inner beveled end face to serve as a stop abutment for the adjacent sleeve element, and yet not act to close the open end thereof. This feature is clearly shown in Fig. 4, and it will also be understood that each sleeve 55 and 5b is utilized as a fluid flow conduit for establishing communication between the chamber 54 of member ii and each of the body passage sections 25 and 2?.

In the sectional assembly view of Fig. 4, it will be observed that the sleeves 55 and 5 3 are located in the longitudinal axis of member H and serve as bearings for the rotational movement of the member. It is unimportant in this assembly to have the sleeves fixed either in the body apertures 51 or, the bores 52 and 53 of member I I, as the inner annular and toroidal sealing elements 49 will act to prevent fluid leakage at the close fitting faces 38 and. 44 and opposite faces 4! and 45. The length of the bearing sleeve element 55 and 56 is chosen such that each has an inlet end in the periphery of chamber 54 and an outlet end at the abutment plugs 59. A further feature resides in the location of the bearing sleeves above the respective ports 39 and 42 for each of the passages 31 and 40 leading upwardly from connection at the spaced fluid inlet passages 35 and 36. In so locating these sleeves above the ports .39 and 42, it will become obvious that the ports are eccentric to th axis of rotation of the member II, and that the adjacent end faces of the member will swing or slide relative to and across these port locations. These sliding zones are effectively sealed against both internal and external fluid leakage by the aforementioned toroidal sealing elements 49 and 48 respectively. In a valve assembly of this character, the sealing elements 48 and 49 also, and importantly act as the means for holding the movable member I I in any of its control positions by exerting a frictional restraining load thereon which is easily overcome upon manual valve operation. The Water pressure in the valve passages and conduits does not exert any unbalanced force on member II to cause it to move out of a given setting.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6, and in fragmentary part in Figs. '7 and 8, I have shown a flrst flow conduit 62 formed in the member II and located parallel with and radially below the axis of the sleeve 55. This conduit 62 lies in a diametral plane of member ll (Figs. 4 and 5) and extends from an inlet end 63 in full open registry with the port 39 of body passage 31, to an outlet end 64 opening to a central well 65 formed at the lower or bottom side of chamber 54. The opening of Well 65 at the bottom central area of chamber 54 is defined by a raised rim or land 66 of annular form, shown best in Figs. 7 and 8. A second conduit 61 is also formed in member H and is located parallel with but eccentric to the longitudinal axis of the member. Thus the second conduit 61, as shown in Fig. 5, has its inlet end 68 to one side of and completely out of registry with the outlet port 42 of the body passage 46. This conduit 61 extends below the bottom of chamber 54 and opens in a second well 69, the axis of well 59 being parallel with the axis of well 65 but eccentric to the axis of the chamber 54. The upper open end of well 69 communicates with an annular recess formed by the central land or rim 66 and an outer annular shoulder H at the lower periphery of chamber 54. The recess 10 and shoulder H are best seen in Figs. 7 and 8.

As may be seen in Figs. 1, 7 and 8, the valve assembly [2 includes a collar means 74 threadedly mounted in the member H to close the outer zone of chamber 54, a valve plug having suitable threading connection internally of the collar 14, a freely movable and floating type piston valve member 16 of annular form whereby to provide a central port 11, and a Washer-type valve element 18 of similar form and size, except for thickness, as the piston member 16. The valve plug 75 carries a valve washer 79 at its lower end for closing the port 1'! in member 16, and the opposite end of this plug is formed with an integral and elongate operating stem 89 which projects outwardly of the collar 74 and carries the handle l3 previously described. The collar 14 is sealed against leakage at the member II by a suitable toroidal element 8|, and the stem 80 of the plug 15 is also sealed against leakage by the element 82. A spacer sleeve 83 is disposed on the stem 80 between the plug 15 and sealing element 82 to prevent the latter from escaping from its annular and elongate seat formed between the stem and collar bore.

In assembly, the floating piston valve has a fit within the chamber 54 such that there is a slight looseness about its periphery to permit or establish a leakage path between it and the circumferential vertical wall of the chamber 54, when and during such time as the piston and its washer element 18 are raised from the concentric lands 66 and H in the bottom of the chamber. In this connection, it will be appreciated that the lands 66 and H form valve seats against which the washer element 18 is pressed by the floating piston 16 upon downward threading rotation of the valve plug 15 to bring its valve element 19 down and in seating closure over the central port 1! of the piston. This last described positionment of the valves is shown in Fig. 4 and it can there be seen that the washer '8 acts to close the annular recess 16 supplied from the well 69, while the washer element 19 on valve plug 15 closes the central port IT in the piston 16 and, thus, cuts off flow from the well 65. The flow is completely shut off in this setting of the valves, and the leakage path around the floating piston 16 is interrupted by the Washer 18 seating on the annular lands 66 and 1 I.

The floating piston 16 is normally subjected to the pressure of the fluid in the well 69 and annular recess 18 which pressure tends constantly to drive the piston upwardly and raise the washer 18 therewith. However, the piston and washer are held a ainst movement off the valve seats by the plug '15 engaging the upper face of the piston in the zone of the central port 11. Upon proper rotation of the handle I3, stem 80 and its plug '15 can be threaded upwardly in the collar 14 to permit fluid pressure to drive the floating piston upwardly also. This fluid pressure will act to keep the port 11 closed by constantly pressing on the piston. During this in tial rise of the piston, the fluids in wells 65 and 69 can intermix in the lower section of the chamber 54 and only a slight leaka e can occur in the manner before stated. Upon the proper rise of the piston 16 by upwardly threading of the plug 15, the perimetral zone of the piston contacts a plurality of circularly spaced and axially extending stop elements 85 integrally formed at the lower end face of the collar 14. Abutment of the piston with these sto s 85 (Fig. 7) prevents or limits further upward piston movement, and thereafter the continued rotation and upward movement of the plug 15 beyond the piston element will lift its valve element 19 from port H in piston 16 and establish a fluid flow path through the chamber 54 from the wells 65 and 69 to the sleeve conduits 55 and 56 (Fig. 8). 7

Turning now to Figs. 5 and 6, it will be seen that the member H is positioned or rotated (Fig. 5) to bring the chamber 54 into a relatively vertical position for the purpose of selecting full fluid flow from passage 3! in body In to conduit 62 in member H. At this time the passage 40 and conduit 6'! are out of registry so that no fluid can pass from one to the other. Thus, fluid from one only of the two supply lines can be permitted to flow to the chamber 54 for ultimate delivery. It should be noted that the setting of member ll relative to the body [0, as in Fig. 5,'corresponds 7 to the full line position of handle l3 and valve assembly I2 in Fig. 3. As before noted, this latter control setting of member M will afford a supply of hot water alone and fully close off the cold water supply.

An opposite condition is shown by Fig. 6, wherein member II has been rotated so that the passage 31 and conduit (32 are out of registration, and the passage 40 and conduit 67 are in full registry. Attainment of this setting of the memher I I relative to body E is had upon rotational displacement of the member to the dotted line position of parts I2 and I3 shown in Fig. 3. Position'ing of the member H at any setting intermediate those shown in Fig. 3 will selectively register the member conduits B2 and 61 with the respective and corresponding body passages 3'5 and 40 in an inversely proportional relation such that more of one fluid than the other will be allowed to pass from the body to the member. Of course, there will be a mid-position of member II for selecting substantially equal flow conditions of the two fluids.

Regulation of the quantity flow of fluid from the chamber 54 of member I I is provided through turning of the stem 30 by handle I3. Thus, zero flow is indicated in Fig. 4 with the handle I3 approximately parallel to the axis of the memher I I. This corresponds with the full line position of handle I3 in Figs. 1 and 2. With the handle I3 of Fig. l rotated toward the front of the fixture, the floating piston 'I'B will be elevated in chamber 5 3 to permit the slight leakage mentioned and an intermixing of the two fluids if desired, but no flow can occur. Hence, the dotted line position 13M of the handle corresponds with the setting of the valves in Fig. 7. For a full flow delivery from the fixture, the position I3F of the handle in Fig. 1 must be attained, and this corresponds with the valve settings shown in Fig. 8. Positionrnent of the control handle I3 intermediate its settings ISP and 43M (Fig. 1) will effectively throttle the discharge at spout I4 according to the demand.

The discharge of fluid at spout I4 (Fig. 3) is obtained in a manner now to be described, and particular reference is directed to Figs. 5, 6 and 9. It will be remembered, that in casting the body I 9 the internal cores produced the island boss 30 in passage section 28, and that this boss 30 extended into the forward body extension 32. This extension 32 is utilized for mounting the spout I4, and accordingly its upper face is suitably machined to provide a fiat seat area located outwardly of and defined by the arcuate shoulder 81. An enlarged aperture 88 is formed through this seat, and the bottom wall of the extension 32 is also provided with a reduced aperture 89 in axial extension of the larger aperture. In cutting the aperture 88, a portion of the boss 30 is also cut to form an arcuate end face 90 which is diametrically opposite a smaller arcuate face 9| of an internal boss 92 formed in the body extension 32 in axial but spaced alignment with the face 90 on boss 39. Thus the arcuate faces 90 and 9! define limited circumferential wall 'zones of the aperture 89 with substantial openings therebetwee'n in communication with the passage section 23. A horizontal bore is formed through the front wall of extension 32, as at 93, and this bore is also continued into the boss 30, as at 94, to terminate at the bore 95 drilled upwardly in the depending boss IT. The front bore 93 is sealed by a flush plug 96 (Fig. 9) and is merely provided as the means for drilling the more important internal bore 94 in boss 30. It can now be seen that fluid may pass from the passage section 28 into bore 94 and to the bore 95 in boss I1. When used as a sink fixture, the threaded boss I? (Figs. 2 and 9) provides the take-off connection for a spray hose (not shown) Thus there are two avenues of fluid discharge from the fixture, one at boss I? and the other through spout Id.

Control over the discharge at either spout I4 or boss i? is provided in and by the base portion 3? of the spout I4 (Fig. 9). The base 9'! is formed. with a cylindrical extension 98 which forms both a pivot and a valve element in connection with the spout M. The extension element 98 has a close fit in the enlarged bore 88 of the body extension 32, and an integral projection 99 extends through the lower aperture 89 sufiiciently to be engaged by a snap-ring I90 which locks the spout base 9? against removal. Suitable fluid'sealing elements IBI and 102 are provided in the undercut shoulders of the element 99 and its extension 53 (Fig. 9). The spout base 91 is drilled from its upper fiat face to form an axial bore I03 which is open to the spout passage I04, and the resulting open end of the axial bore I03 is sealed by a suitable flush plug I05.

The valve element or extension 98 is further provided with a radially directed port I06 which opens from the bottom zone of the axial bore I03 through the cylindrical wall of the extension. In addition a chordally directed passage I0! is formed in the extension 98. This passage I0! is open at its opposite ends, and its axis is angularly directed relative to the radial port I05, in the manner shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In Fig. 5, the

spout It is shown in its straight forward position,

and in such setting the radial port I06 is located substantiallyat right angles thereto so as to open between the front arcuate face 9| of boss 92 and the arcuate end face 90 of the boss 30 and into the passage section 28 of the central body zone 23. This permits fluid flow outwardly of the passage 29 through port 805 and into the spout id for discharge at the sink (not shown). The chordal passage I91, in the showing of Fig. 5, is so angularly directed that one end is closed by the arcuate face SI of boss 92, and its opposite end is open to the passage section 28 at the opposite side from the radial port I06. Passage I0! is, thus, ineffective to pass fluid.

As the spout I3 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, from its position in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 6, the radial port NIB moves into the zone of the arcuate face 9|, while the chordal passage l3! moves into the arcuate end face 99 and opens at the bore 94 in the boss 30 to place this bore 94 in communication with the passage section 28. Fluid flow is cut oif at the spout I4 and the discharge of fluid is directed to the spray line (not shown) connected at the depending boss I"! (Fig. 9). It will now appear that swinging movement of spout I4 controls the delivery of fluid either at the spout (Fig. 5) or at a suitable spray head connected to the fixture, the latter discharge occurring with the spout moved to the left, as in Figs. 6 and 9.

Referring again to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, it will be clear that the supply of hot water at boss I5 and cold water at boss I6 are selectively controlled by rotative positionment of member l! to obtain" either all hot or cold water or a mixture of both. The selection of the volume of fiow is regulated by the valve assembly I2 through proper positioning of the handle I3 to move the valve I5 and the floating piston 16 in the order and relation shown by Figs. '7 and 8. The resulting discharge from the chamber 54 for the valve assembly l2 passes through the sleeve conduits 55 and 56 into the body passage sections 26 and 2'! where it is collected in the section 23 and is directed either to port I for flow at the spout l4 or to the passages and 94 for delivery at a spray head connected in at the passage 95 in boss II. I prefer that the member H (Fig. 3) be moved to its upright, full line position for selection of the fullhot water flow, such that manipulation of the valve handle l3 may be effected without danger of contacting the spout I4 which will be hot during water flow.

In a valve structure of this character, it is preferred that the valves and I6 operate to afiord a mixing of the hot and cold water prior to actual discharge flow. This permits an accurate mixing regulation independently of volume flow regulation, so that there will be no change or variation in the desired temperature of the final mix during adjustment of the valve to throttle the flow. To obtain this improved result, I have incorporated the floating type piston valve 16 which acts to open the hot and cold water inlet conduits 62 and 6'! for simultaneous flow to the chamber 54 below the piston T8. Thus, there can occur no change in the rate of supply of these fluids to the chamber 54 during the further control movement of the principal valve element 15 to throttle the mixed flow through the passage or port ll in the piston 16. The fluid pressure at the under side of the piston 16 serves to drive it outwardly toward the stop elements 85 under the control of of the valve 15. This means that the hot and cold water lines of a general household water piping system are in cross communication at the chamber 54 when the member H is angularly turned to register its respective inlet ports 63 and 68 with the corresponding outlet ports 39 and 42 of body passages 3! and It is obvious, should the floating piston 16 not be fully seated but left in the setting of Fig. 7, that a differential of pressure in either the hot or cold line pipes of the household system could cause cross-flow through the valve assembly in the direction toward the low pressure zone.

To prevent this latter eventuality, the piston valve 16 is made loose fitting in the valve chamber 54 to establish the previously described leakage passage from its under side, about its periphery and to the discharge side of the valve. Therefore, when the handle I3 is turned from its position |3F (Fig. 1) to position I3M, the principal valve 15 will close port 11. However, the pressure of the water under the piston 16. will produce a feel that the valve is fully closed when actually the floating piston has not been moved to its seated position, as shown in Fig. 4. The water will find its avenue of escape at the leakage passage and the small volume trickle at the spout 14, or at the spray head when the spout is swung to the position at Fig. 6, will serve as an indication that the valve has not been fully closed. Further turning effort at handle 13 will drive the floating piston to its fully seated position and stop the leakage. In so doing, this action definitely cuts off the cross-communication of the hot and cold water lines of the general system in which the valve is placed, so that the hot water cannot feed back to the cold water side, or vice versa.

In view of the above description, it is believed .that the characteristics of construction of my preferred valve will be fully understood, and that its manner of selective regulation and control over hot and cold water supplies will become obvious. The form of the valve has bendiscussed in terms of its adaptability as a sink fixture. However, I contemplate that this valve be equally useful in connection with water control and sup ply for a tub and shower. The utility of my valve in this latter setting will now be described.

Referring to Fig: 10, I have illustrated the form of selector valve 58 which replacesthe sink spout i4 and associated valve means 98 shown in Fig.9. It must be understood that other parts of the valve, shown in Figs. 1 to i for example, are not altered or modified in any way as it affects the flow passages up to the selector valve [8. However, the adaptability of my valve for a showertub installation does require a slightly modified body casting to provide a suitable, depending threaded boss 19 which is similar to the flrst mentioned bosses l5, l6 and I? (Fig. 2). In actual production, the body casting l0 may be made with these four bosses iii, 15, ll and I!) as initial parts thereof, then one form of the body can be used for either purpose. When adapted for tubshower use, the boss I9 is left on the body 10 at the under side of the body extension 32 (Fig. 10). In this form, the extension is transversely drilled to form a cylindrical bore Hi8 which opens at its bottom into the axial bore I09 drilled through boss l9, there being a bottom annular seat formed between these bores. A plug-type valve element H6 is rotatively mounted in the larger bore 563 to rest against the bottom seat. The element i it is axially retained in position by a lock ring I! l at its upper peripheral edge, and a valve stem I I2 projects outwardly of the valve bore [08. This stem i [2 is engaged in a suitable socket of a valve cap H3, and a valve handle H4 is inserted in a bore transversely of the socket to pass through an aperture in the stem and thread into the end of the cap bore. This assembly secures the cap H3 and affords a simple means for operation of the valve Hi). This valve assembly is sealed against leakage by suitable sealing elements in the cap grooves provided for the purpose, and by a bottom seal element carried in the bottom of the valve plugabout the discharge passage I09.

The valve plug H0 is provided with a radially directed port I I5 which opens from an axial bore H6, through the peripheral wall of the plug. In addition, the plug H0 contains a chordally directed passage H! which has an angular relation with the radial port H5. The relation of the port and passage in the valve H0 is similar to the equivalent port H16 and passage [0! in the valve 98 for the sink spout l4 of Fig. 9. Thus, port H5 is movable into or away from the arcuate face 9| of the boss in the body extension 32 to control flow of fluid through passage I09 in depending boss l9. Similarly, the chordal passage H! is movable into or away from the arcuate face 90 at the end of the island boss 30 in the body passage section 28. When the port H5 is open to the passage 28, the passage 1 I1 is closed, and fluid is delivered at the boss [9. Conversely, when the port H5 is closed, chordal passage H1 is open between the passage 28 and the passage 94 to deliver fluid at the boss ll. When connected in a tub-shower system, the boss I! (Fig. 9) may be connected to the tub outlet (not shown) and boss l9 may be connected to the shower head (not shown). In this case, it is preferred that th handle H4 be substantially parallel with the axis of valve port H so that the handle will be in the position shown in Fig. to indicate the direction of fluid flow to the tub by way of chordal passage H1 and boss 11, port H5 being closed at the arcuate face 9! to prevent flow at the boss 19 toward the shower; By moving handle N4, the fluid flow is altered to shift the supply to the shower while ending the flow to the tub outlet. The above description has been given with the assumed condition that the tub-shower valve assembly will be mounted in a vertical wall. It will be obvious, of course, that the valve may be installed in any other suitable manner, and that the tub-shower connections can differ from that mentioned without detracting from the utility of the valve.

Having fully described my improved valve in connection with two possible uses thereof, I wish it to be understood that I do not thereby limit the scope of the invention either as to its use or as to its characteristics of construction. What I do desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a valve assembly, a body having distinct fluid inlet passages and outlet passage means communicating with a point of discharge from the body, a member carried by said body and operatively positioned and formed to provide distinct fluid conduits connecting one with each of said body inlet passages and conduit means connecting with said body outlet passage means, said member providing a chamber into which each of said distinct conduits open and from which said conduit means leads, and valve means operatively mounted in said chamber, said valve means including a first valve element positioned to control the intermixing of fluid flowing into said chamber from said distinct conduits, and a second valve element adapted to regulate the flow of fluid from said chamber to said conduit means.

2. A valve fixture comprising a body having separate fluid inlet passages and common fluid outlet passage means; a member carried by said body and formed with a chamber, separate conduits opening between said chamber and said separate inlet passages, and other conduits opening between said chamber and said outlet passage means, a floating piston element disposed in said chamber to permit or prevent fluid flow into the chamber from one of said separate conduits, said piston element being subject to fluid inlet pressure and having a port therethrough, a valve element in control of said port in the piston element to regulate the fluid flow from said chamber to said other conduit means, said valve element being movable toward said piston element to close said port and displace the piston in a direction to prevent fluid flow into said chamber from said one conduit, and movable away from said piston element to open said port therein, and stop means in said chamber for limiting movement of said piston element to enable opening of the port tlierethrough upon movement of said valve element away from said piston element.

3. ihe combination in a fixture of the type described, of a member formed to provide a chamber, separate fluid inlet conduits opening to said chamber, and fluid outlet conduits opening from said chamber; a first valve element disposed in said chamber and formed with a port opening therethrough, said valve element being adapted to close one of said inlet conduits; a second valve element operatively disposed in said chamber to close said port in the first said element and urge the latter into conduit closing position, the first valve element being urged to open position under the influence of fluid pressure; and means for mounting said second valve element in said chamber and providing for movement of the latter relatively beyond said first valve element whereby to permit opening of said port and flow of fluid into said outlet conduits.

4. A water mixing valve comprising a body formed with hot and cold water inlet passages and water discharge passage means, a member carried by said body and formed with a chamber and separate conduits opening to the chamber at a common wall thereof, said conduits being directed toward separate ones of the inlet passages for delivery of hot and cold water to the chamber, a piston element movable in said chamber to engage said common Wall and shut ofi cross-flow of water from one to the other of said conduits, said piston element having a port therein, a valve element cooperating with said piston element to close its port and urge the same into engagement with said wall in opposition to water pressure acting thereagainst, means mounting said valve element for movement in the chamber and acting to limit movement of said piston element out of wall engagement upon port opening movement of said valve element and thereby permit said valve element to move beyond said piston element to open its port, and conduit means disposed in said member and directed to open between said chamber and said discharge passage means in said body.

5. In a water control valve assembly for connection with sources of hot and cold water and arranged to direct the water flow toward either of two zones of discharge, the combination of a body having spaced hot and cold water inlet connections and a-flow passage communicating with and leading from each inlet connection, and spaced water outlets having a common discharge passage in said body with which said outlets are adapted to communicate, a member movably carried by said body and formed with a valve chamber, a hot water conduit opening from the chamber toward the corresponding body flow passage for hot water, a cold water conduit opening from the chamber toward the corresponding body flow passage for cold water, and an outlet conduit opening from the chamber to said common discharge passage in said body, said body hot and cold water flow passages and the corresponding conduits in said member being arranged and related such that movement of the member rela tive to said body will selectively efiect flow of hot, cold or variable proportions of both hot and cold water toward said valve chamber, a first valve element freely movable in said valve chamber and adapted to close an inlet conduit opening thereto against the inlet water pressure, said first valve element having a Water flow port therein, and a second valve element movably disposed in said valve chamber to control said port, said valve elements having a range of concurrent movement to permit flow of water into said chamber, and mixing thereof when said member is moved to select both hot and cold water, and a range of relative movement to permit opening of said port and flow of water to said outlet conduit.

6. In a valve fixture for control of hot and cold water supplies, a body providing a seat area defined by spaced flat faces, interior passage sections in open communication and arranged with a passage section located adjacent each seat face to have a bore opening through the adjacent face, and distinctly separate hot and cold water inlet passages each directed to open through a seat face adjacent the bore therein, means commu- 13 nicating with an interior passage section for directing discharge of water from said body to a point of use, a water flow control member having working engagement with the body seat faces and formed with a chamber having valve seats in a wall thereof, said member further having water outlet conduits opening from said chamber to each of said body seat bores, and water inlet conduits opening through the valve seat wall of the chamber and directed one toward each of said inlet passage openings in the body seat faces, means to support said member on said body for selective movement in opposite directions whereby to register an inlet conduit and corresponding passage for distinguishing flow of hot and cold water into said chamber the inlet conduits and passages being arranged and related for concurrent flow of hot and cold water upon movement of said member intermediate said selective opposite directions, and a valve assembly operably disposed in said chamber for controlling the admission of Water to said chamber and for throttling the fiow of water from said chamber into said outlet conduits, said valve assembly including a floating element engageable on the cham- ,ber valve seats to prevent cross-communication of the hot and cold water supplies and determine complete stoppage of flow.

7. A control valve comprising a body casting providing spaced water inlet connections each having a passage opening therefrom and spaced water outlet means adapted for communication with a body water discharge passage, one of said water outlet means including a valve means carried by said body in position to control selectively the communication of said spaced water outlet connections with said discharge passage, a

'14 member rotatively carried by said body and formed with a valve chamber and spaced inlet and outlet conduits opening to and from the chamber respectively, said inlet conduits each being directed toward and corresponding with one of said body inlet passages, the conduits being adapted for flow communication therewith in a separate and a simultaneous order upon predetermined rotative movements of said member relative to said inlet passages, and said outlet conduits being directed for constant fiow communication with said body discharge passage, and a valve assembly operatively mounted in said valve chamber to regulate the flow of Water into said chamber and to throttle the flow of water from said chamber to said outlet conduits, said valve assembly including a first element movably disposed to regulate the flow of water into said chamber and being effective to establish a leakage path through the chamber, and a second element movable with the first element to prevent water flow out of the chamber and cut-off leakage through said leakage path, the second element further being movable relative to the first element to permit water flow out of the chamber.

TRYON S. LINDABURY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,556,632 Rouleau Oct. 13, 1925 1,605,107 Frost Nov. 2, 1926 1,730,534 Rosenbaum Oct. 8, 1929 2,317,051 Groen Apr. 20, 1943 

